A look at the Brewers’ contract situations heading into 2020-21 offseason

With the offseason now officially upon us with the end of the World Series, Major League Baseball teams can now turn their attention to the 2021 season.

The Milwaukee Brewers have a few decisions to make among players from last year’s roster.

While some are already signed through 2021 (and beyond, in many cases), the Brewers do have four players with team options they’ll have to decide on. Ryan Braun’s deal is actually a mutual option and while he might play in 2021, his wife posting a goodbye to Milwaukee makes it seem like it might not happen with the Brewers.

Ben Gamel, Jedd Gyorko and Eric Sogard – all of whom had their moments in 2020 – are those who have straight team options.

Milwaukee’s biggest decisions might come with those who are arbitration-eligible and whether or not they are good with a big raise or should non-tender any of those players and make them free agents.

Among the more notable names among the Brewers’ eight arbitration case are Orlando Arcia, who would have made $2.2 million last year if the 2020 season was played in full, Josh Hader ($4.1 million), Corey Knebel ($5.125 million) and Omar Narvaez ($2.725 million).

Here’s a rundown of the Brewers’ contract situations this offseason, with salary numbers included (information from Cot’s Baseball Contracts and baseball-reference.com).

Signed

OF Lorenzo Cain — signed through 2022 ($17 million in 2021 and $18 million in 2022)

OF Avisail Garcia – signed through 2021 ($10.5 million in 2021; $12 million team option with $2 million buyout in 2022)

SP Josh Lindblom – signed through 2022 ($2.75 million in 2021; $2.75 million in 2022)

SP/RP Freddy Peralta – signed through 2024 ($1 million in 2021, $2.25 million in 2022, $3.5 million in 2023, $5.5 million in 2024; $8 million team option with $1.5 million buyout in 2025; $8 million team option in 2026

RP Brent Suter – signed through 2021 ($1.5 million in 2021)

OF Christian Yelich — signed through 2028 ($14 million in 2021, $26 million in 2022, $26 million in 2023, $26 million in 2024, $26 million in 2025, $26 million in 2026, $26 million in 2027, $26 million in 2028; $20 million mutual option in 2029 with $6.5 million buyout ($2 million deferred))

Options

OF Ryan Braun — $15 million mutual option with $4 million buyout

OF Ben Gamel — $2.55 million team option

IB/3B Jeff Gyorko — $4.5 million team option with $1 million buyout

IF Eric Sogard — $4.5 team option with $500,000 buyout

Free agents (2020 salary)
(note: salaries for 2020 are for the original 162-game season, not prorated to 60 games)

SP Brett Anderson ($5 million)

Arbitration eligible (2020 salary)
(note: salaries for 2020 are for the original 162-game season, not prorated to 60 games)

SS Orlando Arcia ($2.2 million; eligible for free agency in 2023)

RP Alex Claudio ($1.75 million; eligible for free agency in 2022)

RP Josh Hader ($4.1 million; eligible for free agency in 2024)

1B/3B Ryon Healy ($1 million; eligible for free agency in 2023)

RP Corey Knebel ($5.125 million; eligible for free agency in 2022)

C Omar Narvaez ($2.725 million; eligible for free agency in 2023)

C Manny Pina ($1.85 million; eligible for free agency in 2022)

UT Jace Peterson ($563,500; eligible for free agency in 2022)

Pre-arbitration (2020 salary)
(note: salaries for 2020 are for the original 162-game season, not prorated to 60 games)

RP Ray Black ($566,200)

SP Corbin Burnes ($570,000)

2B Keston Hiura ($582,100)

SP Adrian Houser ($581,600)

SP Eric Lauer ($582,300)

C Jacob Nottingham ($563,500)

OF Tyrone Taylor ($565,300)

IF Luis Urias ($568,800)

1B Daniel Vogelbach ($580,900)

RP Bobby Wahl ($569,500)

RP Devin Williams ($563,300)

SP Brandon Woodruff ($633,100)

RP Eric Yardley ($566,700)